Definition
Erythromelalgia is a painful vasodilation of peripheral blood vessels. In addition to pain, burning type, in the affected area, erythromelalgia also causes heat and redness. The disorder is found especially in the hands, feet, face, ears or knees.
Erythromelalgia lasts from a few minutes to several hours. It can be triggered by exposure to heat sources and is typically relieved by cold compresses.
Erythromelalgia can also be secondary to myeloproliferative disorders (polycythemia vera and thrombocythaemia), venous insufficiency, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, spinal cord diseases and multiple sclerosis. More rarely, erythromelalgia is induced by the use of some drugs (eg bromocriptine).
Possible Causes * of Erythromelalgia
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Diabetes
- Gout
- Hypertension
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Polycythemia vera
- Multiple sclerosis
- Essential thrombocythemia
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Varicose veins
